The Bronze Statue, or, The Virgin's Kiss — page 69: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

THE BRONZE STATUE. 67 the more thn earthly influence of your! your lips—and breathe words of solace and charms—yielding to the impulse of emo-| hope in your ear.’ tions never known or felt till then, I be-| ‘ Excellent Sa‘anais!’ cried de Colmar, sought your friendship ; , profoundly moved by all th:t the lady had ‘And you now repent the rashness of | just said: ‘how an iable is your disposition our demand?’ exclaimed Satanais, sud-|—-how goodis your heart! My God! by denly withdrawing her hand. 'what terrible inconsistency could’st thou ‘This is crue)—unkind—most undeserv- | have acquired the name of the Daughter of ed ! ejacula'ed De Colmar, turning towards | Satan 2 her aud looking with mingled tenderness; ‘Oh! ’tis a dread history—a narrative and reproach into her deep unfathomabie | full of affright and horror—a legend re- eyes. ‘For, as heaven can attest,’ hecon-| plete with a wild and appalling interest” tinued in a tone of increasing fervor, ‘||. xclaimed Satanais, pressing the Knights was about to declare that although [ be-|hand tonvulsively and throwing agitated | sought vour friendship in a moment of| looks around as if she feared lest speetres enthusiasm and without an instant’s re-|s:ould start from the sombre shade pro- flection—yet that never can [ regard it| duced by the buttresses of the building, or otherwise than as a boon of which any |that the white statues should spring into knight in Christendom should be proud.’ {a hideous and ghastly life, ; Satanais gave him her hand—but spoke| ‘ Pardon me for having made so indis- no word; and for a few minutes they walk-|creet an observation,’ said De Colmar. ed on in silence together. ‘IT meant it not with a view to elicit any ‘Yes’ resumed De Colmar, at length,—| partic Jar explanation from your lips, ‘the more I now contemplate this friend- | sweet Indy: it was a mere passing remark, ship which we have vowed to each other, uttered on the impulse of the moment ‘ the greater is my delight, For although it| ‘Cease this exculpatory tone, interrupted may happen that the party whose side cir- | Satanais, bending on the Knight a look of ge cumstances compel me to espouse may pro- | kindness and tender confidence: ‘are we claim war—yes, open war against the sect | not frends P—and should secrets exist be- with which you are associated, neverthe-.| tween us? No—no,’ she exclaimed, her less shall we be friends, Satanais—and | harmonious voice swelling into a tone of even while in hostility with your T'aborite | enthusiasm: ‘! will not return with mis- people, shall | be enabled to watch over|trust and diffidence all the generous as- your safety But these are not the only|surances which you have ere now given considerations which make me rejoice at}me! Besides, she added, as if a sudden the compact which we have formed. For,| idea had struck her,— it may be in your as a true knight, am I bound by that com-| power to aid me with your advice—your pact to serve you in any way and by all;counsel? Yes—lI will reveal to you,’ she means consistent with mine honor: and the}added more reflectiveiy, ‘that wild .and day and the hour may haply come when you | wondrous narrative: I will breathe to the will have need of my arm. Then, Sitanais|ears of friendship the legend of mystery —dear Satanais, thou wilt find it it is no| and horror!’ zs coward champion to whom thou hast en-| But scarcely had she uttered these trusted thy cause, whatever itmay be! For} words, when a Joud voice—coming appa- I swear, by yon moon which treads so love-| rently from the depths of the very earth— ly and brightly in its deep blue path on| exclaimed in deep sonorous tones, ‘ Daugh- high, that should there be at any time found | ter of Stan, thine hour approacheth ” a man capable of even threatening theewith| ‘Avaunt, Demon! shrieked the af- insult,—and shou'd the circumstance reach | frighted girl in a tone and, staggering mine ears,—never will I rest until I have| forward, she would have fallen headlong avenged thee! Dost thou hear me, Satan-| from the marble terrace, had not Sir Er- fis 2” 'nest de Colmar caught her tn his arms. ¢‘] hear thee—oh! I hesr thee—my{ A loud fiendish laugh, as if a maniac brave and venerous friend, she exclaimed,| were expressing a diabolical joy, rang, in atone that evinced an effusion of the| through the air: and so strong was the heart’s most joyous feelings: .and I thank | convulsive spasni which shook the form of thee from the bottom of my soul! Poor} Satanai: with an indescribable dread, that however is the return which! can make/\the Knight was compelled to wind his thee: for all I can proffer—all 1 can pro- larms completely around her and even press wise, is the love of asister. An.’ should| her to his bosom in order to prevent her you, therefore, ever be stretched on the} from falling heavily on the hard pave- bed of sickness, God send that I may be} ment. near to minister to you—to sustain your Then a lone moan succeeded to the aching head—to place the cooling cup to{thrilling, piercing cry which mingled an- comicbooks.com